Taxi drivers have asked for a second fare rise in a year because of rocketing fuel costs.

Newcastle and Kidsgrove Taxi Association wants to put up its fare per mile for journeys over a mile, by more than 14 per cent. It says that this is the smallest acceptable rise considering the high price of fuel.

Petrol prices have risen by about 27 per cent since fares were last increased in Newcastle in December. The association claims that many drivers are struggling to cope.

It says that while drivers' costs have risen sharply, trade is slowing down, with fewer people going out during the evenings and at weekends.

Association secretary Teresa Jones has written to Newcastle Borough Council asking for its permission to raise fares. She says that petrol accounts for about 71 per cent of a taxi driver's business costs.

Ms Jones added: "We didn't want to do this, but there's just nothing we can do about it. Drivers are having to pay £40 or £50 extra every week for fuel, and that's coming out of their wages.

"The increase in December was the first for two or three years and we were reluctant to do it again now. But drivers are really struggling.

"Most of our fares are under £3. But after the last increase the fare from Newcastle to Manchester Airport, for example, only went up by about 20p, which isn't a great increase. We need drivers to get more than that."

The proposed increase would see the fare for the first mile of all journeys go up from £2.80 to £2.90, a rise of 3.6 per cent. The fare for each following mile would then rise by 14.4 per cent, from £1.10 to £1.26.

The fares for taxies carrying five people or more would increase by 14.5 per cent per mile.

Even if these increases are approved by the borough council, they will not come into effect until October.

Glyn Salt, secretary of Stoke-on-Trent Hackney Carriage Association, said his organisation would also be looking at increasing fares this year.

He said: "We have every sympathy with the taxi drivers in Newcastle. Unfortunately we had a fair rise about four months ago, and that was so long overdue that it was actually outdated when we got it.

"It is very hard at the moment. I know of at least five drivers who are trying to sell their taxis.

"We have a meeting coming up soon and we will certainly be discussing this issue."

Newcastle Borough Council's public protection committee will decide whether to approve the fare rise when it meets next Monday.

http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=192156&contentPK=21007294&folderPk=87655&pNodeId=192189